Apple has reportedly resumed talks with OpenAI to build a chatbot for iOS 18
Apple has reportedly resumed conversations with OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, to power some AI features coming to iOS 18, according to a new report in Bloomberg. Apple is also building its own large language models to power some iOS 18 features, but its talks with OpenAI are centered around a “chatbot/search component,” according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman.
Apple's AI Efforts
Apple is also reportedly in talks with Google to license Gemini, Google’s own AI-powered chatbot, for iOS 18. Bloomberg reports that those talks are still on, and things could still go either way because Apple hasn’t made a final decision on which company’s technology to use. Apple has been notably quiet about its AI efforts even as the rest of Silicon Valley has descended into an AI arms race.
When the company announced its earnings in February, CEO Tim Cook said that Apple is continuing to work and invest in artificial intelligence and is “excited to share the details of our ongoing work in that space later this year.” It claimed that the brand new M3 MacBook Air that it launched last month was the “world’s best consumer laptop for AI,” and will reportedly start releasing AI-centric laptops and desktops later this year. Apple also released a handful of open-source large language models that are designed to run locally on devices rather than in the cloud.
AI Features in iPhones
It’s still unclear what Apple’s AI features in iPhones and other devices will look like. Generative AI is still notoriously unreliable and prone to making up answers. Recent AI-powered gadgets have received mixed reviews, and it remains to be seen how Apple will integrate AI technology into its products.
We’ll find out more at WWDC on June 10.
Future of Apple's AI
The companies have begun discussing terms of a potential agreement and how OpenAI features would be integrated into Apple’s next iPhone operating system, iOS 18. Apple and OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The potential integration of OpenAI's technology could mark a significant advancement in Apple's AI capabilities.
Meanwhile, Apple's discussions with Google and its continued investment in AI indicate the tech giant's commitment to staying at the forefront of artificial intelligence technology. As the AI arms race heats up, Apple's strategic partnerships and developments in AI are closely watched by industry experts and consumers alike.
